On Revolution

On Revolution

On Revolution rereads historical events often taken for granted, deeply analyzing and contrasting the hidden logic behind the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. Arendt imbues concepts such as violence, revolution, war, and freedom with new meaning, and her analysis of the nature of politics demonstrates refreshing originality and insight. No other political philosopher in history has devoted as much attention to the phenomenology of political life as she has.
"We shall pass away without a trace of smoke, because, in the long river of human history, we have missed the moment of founding a nation on liberty." This was Robespierre's final prophecy. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the American Revolution had already realized the ideal of freedom. "On Revolution (New Edition)" draws upon a phenomenological approach to political life and the different theories guiding the two revolutions, deeply analyzing the differences between the two revolutions and expressing the author's republican ideal of "founding a nation on liberty." The content revolves around the differences between the French and American Revolutions. Arendt constantly compares the two, noting the French Revolution's shift in purpose from "founding a nation on liberty" to an indictment of social ills. Meanwhile, the American founders, from the outset, were concerned with the construction of political forms that would ensure the inclusion of diverse perspectives and positions, and the representation of the voices and interests of a wider range of people or groups. Although the American Revolution profoundly influenced the French Revolution, the outcomes were starkly different.

2019-04-01

译林出版社

298

9787544776813